Instagram launches its new feature to protect users from abusive & hate speech

Instagram has been working on features that highlight unwanted and abusive messages in users’ direct messages (DMs) and protect them from unwanted contact. This includes penalties for people who send abusive DMs to the users.

All message filtering will take place on the user’s device, which means this tool won’t send any message content back to Instagram servers and when the tool is turned on. The filter will automatically remove moderate DMs containing offensive words, phrases, and emojis, so the user never has to see them. The users will also be allowed to hide offensive comments and choose what terms they don’t want people to use in comments under their posts. After introduction of this tool, the user can turn both comment and DM request filters on and off in a new dedicated section of their Privacy Settings called Hidden Words.

The feature also gives users the ability to prevent someone you’ve blocked from contacting you from a new account. This allows the user to block from their account and pre-emptively block new accounts that person may create. The new feature will be available globally in the coming weeks.